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From Paradise

A lovely collaboration of slack key Hawaiian guitar and melodious harmonica, along with gorgeous vocals and harmonies, combine to bring you some original songs and traditional ones like you've never heard them .

Genre: World: Hawaiian

Release Date: 2012

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ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

George Kahumoku Jr. and the late Norton Buffalo collaborate on this album that captures Norton's incredible harmonica talent with George's exquisite Hawaiian Slack Key guitar. Their beautiful vocals both in English and Hawaiian delight the ear.The album includes six original songs, four of which are released here for the first time.In a tribute to Norton, four other well known musicians from Hawaii, graciously appear : Keoki Kahumoku, Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, Herb Ohta Jr. and Jeff Peterson.

As in most human endeavors, there is a big difference between the skills of the average and the expert on any musical instrument. Even the small and easily approachable harmonica has a much wider range of sounds and textures in the hands of a skilled craftsman. This is where the big difference lies between harmonica being played in an easy and rough manner by artists such as Neil Young and Bob Dylan and a true harmonica craftsman. Few such craftsmen have risen to the level of Norton Buffalo. Back in the late seventies Charlie McCoy had a big hit with his harmonica version of The Orange Blossom Special and Charlie Musselwhite does outstanding work on many numbers, but probably the finest work ever done on this little instrument was Norton's.

An example of his range and dexterity can be found on this recording. Many will not recognize that Norton had an interest in Hawaiian music but it is clearly evident in this release. From the mainland bluesy feel of “Wai Pahe'e” (a Hawaiian song not usually associated with the blues) to a very accordion-like sound on the Italian tune “Torna a Surriento”, Norton's range on this recording is very wide and always with impeccable feeling.

Norton's association with Hawaiian music apparently stemmed from exposure to Hawaiian culture from his friend and collaborator on this recording, George Kahumoku. They had met each other years before via the intermediary of Jesse Colin Young, who was living in Hawaii at the time. Earlier Jesse, with his band The Youngbloods, was the first act signed by the inimitable David Geffen. Jesse had achieved some artistic success at this point and when his house in northern California burned down he had moved out to Hawaii.

Along with George, several Hawaiian musicians with whom Norton had become acquainted, mostly as a result of his friendship with George Kahumoku, have joined in on this recording. George's son Keoki as well as Lisa Flores Buffalo, Dennis Kamakahi, Herb Ohta Jr., and Jeff Peterson have all contributed to the work. To those perhaps not familiar with some of these artists, Dennis, Jeff and George can be heard on the soundtrack for the movie “The Descendants” featuring lead actor George Clooney.

In summary, this is a recording well worth owning and playing many times over, and a fond legacy from a beloved artist....Richard Kinkaid

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